Page 105 of The Husband Contract

“I know,” he says grimly and then laughs. “I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth.”

“I never thought I’d say them,” I admit. “But what am I going to do? She’s back in Whispering Haven. She hates me. She’s not going to want to speak to me.”

“I understand that. And normally, I’d say let it go. But you can’t.”

“What do you mean, I can’t?”

“Well, there are two reasons. Firstly, you love her, and ifyou love her, you have to fight for her. But secondly…” He leans forward, his face serious. “If her cousin did this to her, if her cousin set her up, then who knows what else she might try to do? Doesn’t Willow work for her cousin?”

“I suppose she does.”

“Then she might need your protection.”

“She doesn’t want me,” I said quietly. “She doesn’t want my protection. I was the one she needed protectingfrom. No, Jack. I can’t do anything.”

“Sebastian, listen to me.”

I look up at him wearily.

“You were the one who took it several steps too far because of the information you thought you knew,” he continues, “but who were the ones that put this info into your head?

“It was Louisa. And I suppose it was also Charlotte.”

“If they were willing to go this far to set Willow up... who knows what else they’re going to do?”

“I need to speak to her,” I say finally. “I have a board meeting tomorrow. I’ve got so much I need to handle, but?—”

“I’ve been buying the stocks as well,” Jack interrupts. “We’re about to get to fifty-one percent. Once you’re the majority stakeholder, without your other family members, you’ll be in control.”

I nod slowly. “But I need a couple more days. I have to speak to Romanov. I have to speak to?—”

Jack holds up his hands. “What’s most important here, Sebastian?”

I stare at him. I know what he’s saying.

“You can save the company,” he says quietly, “or you can save Willow. You have to choose one.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Willow

“Thank you for calling the Whispering Haven Bed and Breakfast. How may I help you?” My words are perfunctory. I’m emotionally and mentally exhausted. It takes everything in me to remain professional.

“Do you have any rooms for a dollar?” a young male voice sounds through the phone. My potential new guest sounds like he’s about eight.

“No, sir. I’m afraid we don’t.” I’m too tired to say anything else. I’m not surprised when he bursts out laughing and immediately hangs up. This isn’t the first, nor will it be the last, prank phone call we receive.

It’s been two days since I’ve been back in Whispering Haven, and it feels like I never left. It’s as if my life hasn’t changed at all. I’m back at work, manning the front desk, and feeling like I don’t know where I’m going in my life.The only thing different now is I no longer have my second job at the Magnolia Club.

They didn’t technically fire me, but there’s no way I’m going back. I never want to see Norman or that coat station again.

“Hey, chica, we just got done cleaning the Jungle Room,” Katherine says as she heads up to the front desk, a broom in her hand and a smile on her face. “Brielle went to empty the trash.”

“Awesome.” I force a smile at her, hoping to stay positive as I can around my friends. I don’t want them to constantly see how badly I am hurting. “Thanks for doing that. I’ve been so tired.”

“Girl, you’ve been through a lot. How are you feeling?” She observes me with a keen expression, and I know she has more questions for me. I haven’t really spoken to her about what went on at Sebastian’s apartment. I definitely don’t want to admit that I slept with him again or that I still had feelings for the man. They don’t need to know I still think about him. I’m not sure what that says about me, that I am still, technically, in love with a man who fooled me and basically kidnapped me.

“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?” Katherine asks.